Trying to set up a paint station so that I am not constantly pulling out newspaper to cover up desk, lamps, magnifying glasses etc. Read through posts about spray booths, but have not reached a conclusion yet.
I made a booth with 2 small PC fans and a plastic container, and it is useless. I had not considered the fact that I am blowing into a box, and that it would blow right back at me. Much worse than simply spraying at my workbench. Seems like it would take some serious air movement to overcome that blow-back. One thing to consider, is that I was airbrushing onto a CD case, and I had much higher air and paint flow out of the airbrush than I would if painting a kit.
In this thread: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/4587 a marine blower is mentioned. They are supposedly safe, as they are designed to handle gas fumes, and the inexpensive ones are still rated at 200+ CFM. Trouble with them is that they are 12 volt, so some power supply other than household is needed. Maybe an inexpensive AC to DC power supply, something like what is used for electronic lab work?
The one experiment I did with my DIY was Tamiya Surface Primer, and man does that stuff have a strong smell!
I think you could find one for $ 100- $ 150. I have a Paasche that I spent a little more on, but they make some smaller ones and they are a good brand.
So far, the inexpensive booths I have looked at all state that they are not to be used with flammable solvent based paints. This is important to me. If I go to the trouble of building one, or expense of buying, I really want one that I can use lacquer ans enamel based paints with.
Is your Paasche designed for use with solvent based paints?
My experiment looks similar to yours. I haven’t found a reasonably priced fan that will move enough air yet.
All the Paasch hobby booths come with this in the description: “Not intended for use with hazardous materials, flammable or explosive paints or materials”. Maybe that is to limit their liability?
I used to own the Paasche model, and I recall it said in the directions it was NOT to be used with flammable paints. Perhaps they have changed the motor to a sealed one, or one that is not in direct line with the flow of flammable paints. The inexpensive price might help to answer that question though.
Build a booth with a Dayton blower and you will be happy. Mine sucks all the fumes out through a panel I place in the window. Works great. I could post some pics if anyone is interested.
I built a booth using a 120 volt 6" dia in-duct fan, with 6" flex duct to a reducer to connect to a 4" thru wall dryer vent. You can get them at any big box hardware store. The fan is rated 250 cfm. It does a great job of removing fumes. I installed the fan at the wall exit and ran the flex duct to the booth. I also installed an on-off switch on the wall below the fan. I just used a large clear plastic bucket for the booth and put some brackets on to hold a furnace filter in front of the duct. If you want some serious suction, they also have an 8" dia fan rated 500 cfm.
The problem with an inline duct booster is the motor is exposed to flammable vapors. If it were me, I would try to get ahold of a furnace draft inducer assembly. The blower wheel is in a seperately enclosed housing from the motor. Also, most draft inducers are around 150-500 cfm, which is more than enough air flow through a 4" vent. P.S. - I am a HVAC certified service tech…
I have built several spray booths. I found through experience that you need about 100 cfm or more of flow. It may well be the fans you used were not powerful enough.
So I would guess the rectangular opening is the exhaust. So the fan is simply open to the atmosphere? How do I apply that in order to get it to draw from the box of my booth? Is this a type of blower fan on this spray booth? http://pacepaintbooths.com/pace/
Sorry, I know I am missing the basic functioning of one of these fans.
Don:, this is something like what you have used? Maybe use two of these to get very good airflow?
It is a very nice complete looking unit…but like most of its style still says "Full 1-Year Warranty: Not intended for use with Hazardous Materials, Flammable or Explosive Paints or Materials " which was the problem many have had with this style of paint booth.
This type of fan/motor keeps the motor out of the airway so is inherently safer, than the in line type. It costs more and that is the quandary: possible danger to self and property or confidence you have the a more functionally safer unit.
